Former 1915 Mount St. Mary convent ‘will be deconstructed’

The Congregation of St. Joseph is demolishing Mount St. Mary, its prominent 1915 former home at 3700 E. Lincoln, except that’s not how the order is referring to it.

“We’re not demolishing it,” said Sister Mary Anne Hebert. “We’re deconstructing it.”

The plan is to repurpose the 60,000-square-foot building along with a newer building to its east that once was a retreat center.

The goal is find new uses for 98% of the buildings materials.

“That’s our policy,” Hebert said.

That means doors, windows, leaded glass, bricks, stones and fixtures throughout the building will go to new homes.

“There really is very little furniture in the building at this time,” said Sister Marie Hogan of the congregation leadership team in Detroit.

Whatever is left will go to other organizations.

“As little as possible goes into a landfill,” Hogan said.

The 1915 building was built following a 1913 fire at the original Wichita residence for the order.

That 1887 building had been built by a church not associated with the order. The sisters had been in that building for 13 years, according to a 1913 Wichita Eagle story.

The Eagle also reported that numerous committees formed to help raise money to build the sisters a new home.

There was an outpouring of support for the order.

At the time, the order had more than 200 nuns living and training at the building. Some orphans lived there as well.

“For these poor nuns the tragedy opens with a sigh and closes with a stifled sob,” said a September 13, 1913, Catholic Advance column.

The newspaper said it was a matter of civic pride for the city to help the nuns rebuild.

That’s what happened, and they had their 1914 Christmas dinner in the new $70,000 building, according to a Jan. 2, 1915, Catholic Advance story.

“The building is a splendid type of the modern convent and will be ready for occupancy next month.”

Hogan referred to the building as “the former Mother House, the oldest of the buildings” on the campus.

The order eventually moved into a newer building on the property that is one level in some parts and two levels in others. There is independent, assisted and skilled care for lay people and the almost 55 sisters who remain.

“We have right-sized our building on the property around the congregation,” Hogan said.

Some sisters already moved from Wichita, and fewer remain here.

“We have other centers besides Wichita,” Hogan said.

After the sisters moved from the 1915 building, it was occupied by Catholic Charities and then Saint Francis Ministries.

“It was not sustainable for either organization,” Hogan said.

The order no longer uses the building, and she said removing it reduces the carbon footprint of the campus.

Deconstructing the building costs less than renovating it, Hebert said.

“We did look to numerous groups before we made the decision to deconstruct,” Hogan said.

The deconstruction process takes longer than a more simple demolition would.

Hebert said there’s not a particular timeline for the project.

“With that kind of building, the details are huge.”

There likely will not be a public sale of items as they’re removed.

“I would guess that’s not possible because of how deconstruction happens,” Hogan said.

She said it’s difficult to say how many of the almost 55 sisters are retired and how many are still active.

“They may be doing volunteer work . . . while they’re in retirement,” Hogan said. “They’re very engaged as long as they can be engaged.”

Historically and currently, the nuns have been involved with pastoral work, education, social services, spiritual work and health care.

“Part of what we’re really proud of is our presence in this neighborhood,” Hebert said. “We will remain on this property.”

That’s important, Hogan said, regardless of what building the order is in.

“We are still proud of our heritage in Wichita and our presence in the Hilltop neighborhood. That will not change.”